Friday, March 6, 2015

Chicago Steel Week 24 Game Preview

The Chicago Steel have a full slate of games this weekend. Friday and Saturday, the Steel host the Omaha Lancers and the Dubuque Fighting Saints at the Edge Ice Arena. Sunday, the Steel travel to Dubuque, Iowa for a rematch with the Fighting Saints. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 7 p.m. on Saturday and 3:05 p.m. on Sunday.

The Steel (21-21-3) acquired three players at this week’s trade deadline. Forward J.D. Dudek (Dubuque), defenseman Carson Vance (Youngstown) and goaltender Trevor Gorsuch (Waterloo) all join the Steel for the final stretch of the season. Last weekend, Chicago dropped its road game in Bloomington, 3-2. Freddy Olofsson and Tyler Sifferlen scored the two Steel goals. Olofsson looks to continue his scoring streak, as he has tallied goals in the last four games and has registered a point in five-straight games. Olofsson leads the Steel with 23 goals this season, ranking among the USHL leaders in goals scored.

The Omaha Lancers (28-14-5) saw their six-game win streak snapped on Thursday by Team USA, as they were defeated 7-2. The Lancers struggled through the first month of the season but were able to turn things around and currently find themselves in third place in the Western Conference. This season, the Lancers have been led on offense by Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson (14g, 36a) and Shane Gersich (25g, 20a). In the previous meeting between the Lancers and the Steel, Chicago picked up the road win 4-3 behind Connor Murphy’s game-winning goal in the final minutes of regulation.

The Dubuque Fighting Saints (27-14-4) are 5-5 over their last ten games but still sit in the third spot in the East with 58 points this season. Dubuque and Chicago have split their previous meetings this year, with the Steel picking up a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory in January. Freddy Olofsson tallied two third-period goals and Ryan Blankemeier sealed the come-from-behind victory with the game-winning OT goal. The Saints have allowed the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference this season behind excellent play from goaltender Jacob Nehama. 

Tickets for our Friday and Saturday home games can be purchased by phone at 630-594-1161 or online at tickets.chicagosteelhockeyteam.com.

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